NCAA Women's Lacrosse Preview: No. 9 Hopkins Fueled for 2025

USA Lacrosse Magazine is beginning its countdown to the 2025 women's lacrosse season by releasing one team preview per day beginning on Monday, Jan. 13.

We continue the countdown with No. 7 Johns Hopkins, a team motivated by how its 2024 season ended.

Johns Hopkins’ playoff run culminated in a pair of “almosts.”

After upending Michigan in the Big Ten quarterfinals, the Blue Jays nearly knocked off Northwestern in a 13-12 loss. They had few issues with Fairfield in the first round of the NCAA tournament (an 11-5 win) but came up on the short end of a back-and-forth affair with Yale two days later (a 9-7 loss).

The success mixed with setbacks is serving as motivation as the Blue Jays turn the page.

“It added some great fuel, for sure,” said Tim McCormack, entering his third year with the Blue Jays. “We learned a ton as a team last year. We have some good veterans back on both sides of the ball. We also have some new people that we’ve brought in. We’re excited to hopefully take off right where we left off.”

The offense can certainly do so, with core players returning. But the draw circle and goalie position are open questions.

TOP RETURNERS

Ava Angello, A, Jr. (53G, 15A)  
Ashley Mackin, M, Sr. (48G, 18A)  
Reagan O’Brien, D, Jr. (38CT, 35GB)

The Blue Jays return their top two scorers, Ava Angello and Ashley Mackin. A versatile attacker who can feed, pass and play off-ball, Angello has good hands and has few issues finishing in tight spaces. Mackin also has a knack for finishing. Her field vision makes her a good candidate to assist in the quarterback role with Bailey Cheetham (14G, 35A) gone. McCormack said more than one player will likely try their hand at distributing, including Campbell Case (32G, 16A) and sophomore lefty Taylor Hoss (7G, 3A in 14 games).

Defensively, McCormack said Reagan O’Brien is brimming with confidence following her stint with the U20 National Team over the summer. While she primarily focused on defense in her first three seasons, McCormack sees her as a Jordan Carr-style player who can take a green light, run with it and score. And that’s good news, as Carr (5G, 1A, 52CT, 56GB) is one of Hopkins’ most significant losses.

“Her upbringing was as a two-way middie,” McCormack said. “She has the ability to push the ball for us.”

When she stays put on defense, O’Brien will work alongside Paris Colgain (25CT, 37GB), a hard-nosed, low-post defender who is seemingly always two steps ahead of opposing offenses.

KEY ADDITIONS

Lacey Downey, So., M (Boston College
Elleri Colon, Fr., M (St. Ignatius College Prep, Calif.)
Laurel Gonzalez, Fr., M (Torrey Pines, Calif.)

With Jennifer Barry (133DC), Abbey Hurlbrink (52DC) and Carr (48DC) gone, the Blue Jays will trot out a new-look draw unit in 2024. Lacey Downey, who played in two games at Boston College as a freshman, and rookie Ellery Colon are expected to be key cogs.

“Lacey Downey has been off the charts,” McCormack said, adding she boasts great anticipation.

Colon also had a significant impact taking the draw and as a circle player, and Laurel Gonzalez could also contribute. Like Downey, both are two-way midfielders. Unlike Downey, a Long Island native, Colon and Gonzalez arrive in Maryland from California.

NOTABLE DEPARTURES

Graduations: Madison Doucette, G; Campbell Case, A; Bailey Cheetham, M; Maeve Barker, A; Marielle McAteer, M; Jordan Carr, D; Jennifer Barry, M/DS; Maggie Tydings, G; Abbey Hurlbrink, M

X-FACTOR

Ashley Mackin, M, Sr. (48G, 18A)

So nice, McCormack mentioned her twice. To recap: Mackin’s ability to score, feed and play off-ball makes her the straw that stirs the drink. With Cheetham gone and a draw unit with a whole lot of new, the Blue Jays want to take advantage of every shot they get. Mackin will likely finish the job (or dish to someone in the best position to do so).

“She has great vision right now and is playing with a ton of confidence,” McCormack said.

THE NARRATIVE

The Blue Jays don’t have the nearly entirely new roster that Big Ten foes like Penn State have this season. But they don’t have the same consistency as Michigan, either.

Besides the draw and quarterback role, Hopkins will need to replace stopgap goalie Madison Doucette, a former Northwestern starter who re-emerged after a year off for one last go-round. Morgan Giardina, a junior who played in six games in 2023 and none in 2024, has emerged as the top contender. But sophomore Heidi Rosely, who played in one game last year, is also making a run at the starting nod.

Much like the final Big Ten standings (Hopkins was fourth), they’re somewhat in the middle. Ultimately, McCormack said that making a run at perennial conference champions Northwestern and Maryland will come down to playing a full 60 minutes, something the Blue Jays struggled to do at times. Hopkins led Stony Brook 13-5 in the third quarter of a March game but won 14-12. It led Michigan 8-4 at halftime in a 13-9 regular-season loss.

“It’s consistency and being true to who we are,” McCormack said. ”On the field, as far as tactics are concerned, it’s about scrapping it up, battling in the drawing area for possessions, riding, maybe causing an extra turnover here and there and shooting percentage.”

McCormack thinks the pieces are in place. Regardless of where Hopkins ends up, the strength of schedule (bolstered by USC entering the Big Ten) likely puts the Blue Jays in a good spot to play in the NCAA tournament.